The walking dead
A fan fiction by Codez
Chapter one: A Beautiful World
My name is Rick Grimes, the county deputy. The world isn't what it used to be. It's amazing how fast things can change. It all started on April 2nd. My wife, Lori and I, were dropping off our son, Carl, at school. It seemed like a normal day for sure. But I was wrong.
"Okay, you have a good day buddy!" Rick says crouching in front of his son.
"I will dad." Carl says and smiles.
"Come on, you don't want to be late." Lori insisted.
Rick notices something is up with Lori.
"Okay…Bye mom. Bye dad." Carl says and hugs them both.
"Bye buddy!" Rick smiles as Carl walks into school. Lori turns and starts to walk away. Rick follows her.
"You okay?" he asks.
"Fine…" Lori pleaded.
"Okay…well, uh, I'll probably be home late tonight." Rick explains.
Lori snaps and turns toward him. "Again?" Lori demands.
Rick feels bad. "Rick, I can't keep doing this!"
Lori explains with frustration. "Baby, I know but I gotta work. I need to provide for you and Carl. My family comes first, you know that." Rick reassures her.
"No! No, I don't know that! You know why? Because you're always at work!" Lori shouts.
"Because I need to provide for my family! You and Carl!" Rick tries to explain.
"You have a choice, Rick! Okay. So don't you dare pin this on Carl and I!" Lori shouts.
"Lori, you know it's not my choice…" Rick explains.
"Yes, you do. You always choose work over us, your family!" Lori replies.
"Lori…you don't actually believe that do you?" Rick asks feeling bad.
"I…I don't know what to think! Okay, Rick, I don't know! I'm sorry Rick, I love you, I do but you're never there! Especially when we need you. When I need you most. Just think about that…" Lori accuses.
Rick looks hurt and frustrated Lori sees it that way. "Look…I don't know what to say…I just wanna make things better. I wish I could. I love you and I'm tryin okay. So hard! Lord knows I'm tryin." Rick pleads.
Lori notices Rick is upset. She caresses his cheek. "You mean well Rick, I know you do. But maybe you ain't tryin hard enough…" Lori mutters.
Rick continues to get frustrated. "I said I'm tryin! I will prove that to you! I will, somehow. I promise I will…but right now I gotta go to work. Can we please talk about this later, when I get home?" Rick asks with irritation.
"At what, midnight? When you get home at midnight?" Lori asks sarcastically.
"Lori…" Rick sighs.
"Yeah, okay…later…" Lori mutters and continues approaching her car.
"Lori, I love you!" Rick says.
Lori reaches her car and pauses. She turns and faces him again.
"They're just words, Rick. I don't need words. I need a man of action…" Lori states. Lori gets in the car and drives away. Rick watches her leave and is hurt by these words. He gets in his car and leaves.
As I drove to work I was really thinking hard about what Lori said to me. Was she right? It was really bugging me. Yeah, maybe she was right. I do need to try a little harder I guess… Anyway, I got to the station and was greeted by my partner, Shane Walsh.
"Hey there, Rick." Shane greets.
"Shane. What we got today?" Rick nods in a greeting way and asks.
"Sherriff just informed me, we got a call about some out of control speeders, and they're armed apparently, on the back roads of town. Near Candle Creek." Shane explains.
"Alrighty then, suppose we better head over there then." Rick indicates. Shane nods. They get into their vehicle and head over to the old back streets of town.
When they arrive they set up a spike strip across the road and then sit back in their vehicle.
"So how's Lori?" Shane asks.
"Lori…well, yeah…she's okay I guess. I mean, I don't know. I think she's just a little mad cause I work too much…" Rick explains.
"Ah, Rick. It's true you work too hard man. You gotta take a break and spend time with your family." Shane agrees.
"You think?" Rick asks.
"Yeah man, you got a beautiful wife man. Tell you what, after we round up these red necks, you head on home to that pretty lady of yours and surprise her. Take the rest of the day off to spend time with her." Shane suggests.
"What? Are you serious?" Rick laughs.
"Yeah man, come on, why not? I mean it's getting pretty quiet nowadays anyway. So I don't think the sheriff will mind." Shane explains.
Rick laughs but agrees. "Yeah. Okay. You're right man, you are absolutely right. Gosh man that big head of yours gives some good advice now and then." Rick laughs.
"My big head? Come one man, girls love my big head." Shane laughs.
"Do they?" Rick jokes. They both laugh.
"Anyway man, how's Carl?" Shane asks.
"He's good, he's been working hard in school. Earning the grades so we will take him camping this summer." Rick explains proudly.
"Camping. You? Where?" Shane laughs and asks.
"I can camp! I was born to survive in the wild. We thinking of heading to the lake." Rick explains.
"Nice…" Shane nods.
As their conversation becomes quiet the sound of a fast revving engine in the distance sounds. "Come on man, here they come." Shane says.
"Alright you guys ready?" Rick uses his radio to inform the officers in the car behind them.
The racing car speeds up and the tires are slashed as it runs over the spike strip. The car runs off the side of the road doing a flip, crashing over the barbed wired fence. "Oh shit!" Shane gasps.
Rick, Shane and the other officer get out of the vehicles and observe the car wreck in the distance of the field. "You think their dead?" Shane asks.
"I do not know." Rick sighs.
"Deputy, I see movement." Officer Sam informs them.
Rick and Shane notice two men crawling out of the car and they are armed. "This is Deputy Grimes, I command you to drop you weapons and put your hands over your head!" Rick shouts.
One of the men stand and fires a shot. "Pigs!" The man yells. The shot hits Officer Sam.
Rick and Shane duck behind their car as they see Sam falling to the ground and Officer Thompson running over to Sam. Another shot is fired. Thompson is then hit and falls to the ground. Shane fires three shots. Hitting one of the men. The other man sneaks closer to the fence and aims at the cop car. "Okay, you keep him distracted, I'll make the shot…" Rick whispers and explains. Shane nods.
Rick sneaks behind the other police car while Shane fires a few more random shots, deliberately missing the man for a distraction. The man aims at Shane, thinking he has a clear shot. Rick then walks toward the man pointing his gun at the man. "Drop it!" Rick demands. The man drops the weapon as Shane stands up and backs Rick up, pointing his gun at the man too.
Suddenly a shot is fired. A third man gets out of the wrecked vehicle and fires his weapon. Rick is hit. Rick falls to the ground. Shane is startled and shocked. "Rick! No!" Shane shouts then shoots the last man down in anger for revenge. Shane runs over to Rick, who is laying on the road in a pool of his blood.
"Shane…" Rick tries to speak.
"I'm here buddy, I'm here…" Shane sighs with teary eyes.
"Look after…Lori…" Rick stutters then closes his eyes.
"No Rick! Don't close those eyes! Rick! No!" Shane shouts with sadness and anger as the tears run down his face.
Yeah, I was shot. I don't remember much of that moment, just that it hurt like a bitch. I remember falling and in that moment I saw a vision, a memory in my mind. A vision about Lori and Carl. They were happy. We were happy. I thought I was gonna die…and I knew I'd never be able to relive that moment ever again…
In the hospital, Rick had just had a medical procedure done and Shane had brought flowers and visited him. Rick was in a comma. "I brought you some flowers man…come on man, please wake up if you can hear me…we need you here, your wife needs you, Carl needs you, I need you man!" Shane mutters placing the flowers beside Rick's bedside. Shane sits silently beside the bed watching Rick sleep. Shane eventually drifts off into a sleep.
June 12th,
Rick has awoken from his comma. He is breathing heavily, readjusting himself to the situation trying to remember the past events. He notices the withered flowers on his bedside. Rick tries to get up and out of bed but falls onto the floor. He sits up and tries to yell for help but it's not loud at all. He crawls toward the door, taking out his IV drip, and he stands himself up. He tries pushing the door open but it's a struggle, there's a bed blocking the door. Rick is weak but tries pushing harder to get out of the room.
When Rick enters the hallway he has also entered a whole new world. Rick notices bullet holes all over the walls, smashed glass, broken lights and even bloodstains. Rick staggers down the hall where he finds a few rotten corpses by the exit. Rick blocks his nose and tries to get out but it's locked. Rick is so confused about what has happened and how long he was asleep for. Rick makes his way down another hallway where he comes to a door, it's locked and has a board preventing it being opened. Written on the door, in blood, is a warning. "DON'T OPEN, DEAD INSIDE!" Rick is confused and approaches the door. He is then startled as the door is pushed slightly open and a few monstrous hands poke through the crack trying to get out. Rick has now established something really messed up is happening. Rick moves faster to another exit.
Eventually Rick manages to escape and finds himself outside in bright daylight. No one in sight. Damaged cars and property all around him. Then he notices something strange. It looks to be at least a dozen bodies covered by white sheets on the ground. Rick hesitates but lifts one of sheets to find a rotten corpse. Rick was now starting to panic, he was worried about his family. He ran through the park where he sees half of a crawling, rotten, corpse crawling toward him snarling. Rick can't believe it. He is so confused and shocked. Rick rushes down the street until he reaches his home and he storms in looking for Lori and Carl. But they are nowhere to be seen…
It was like I entered a totally different world. A world where I was the only one alive. I don't know what I missed but all I wanted to do was find my family. Yeah I was scared, I didn't know where to start but I had to find Lori. I had to find Carl. I needed to know they were okay and safe! So I thought I'd head to the police station for a start and see if I could get any understating of what has happened and how long I was out for. Turns out I was in a comma for two months! It feels like I have been reborn into an apocalyptic world, a zombie apocalypse, like a movie or something…
Rick exits his home after noticing that pictures and clothing were gone. Which could only mean one possibility, Lori and Carl were alive when they left but where were they now? Rick wanders down the street where he slowly makes his way to the police station but then behind him he startled by a voice. "Talk!" the voice demands. Rick is still unsure of what to do. The person circles Rick, pointing his gun at him.
"I said talk!" the voice demands again.
Rick observes the man. He looks to be middle aged, African-American and scared. Rick can see the fear and aggression in this man's eyes as he is pointing his rifle at Rick. Rick clears his throat. "Please…" Rick mutters.
The man eventually lowers his weapon and begins to walk away.
"Please…don't leave me…" Rick sighs.
The man continues walking away until a kid comes out of the bushes. "Dad, is he one of them?" the kid asks. The man stops and turns to the kid.
"I told you to stay hidden!" the man grunts.
"But dad, we can't leave him here…" the kid expresses his concern.
"He's not our problem…c'mon now…" the man grunts and begins to walk away dragging his son with him.
"Wait! Please…I'm not dangerous…" Rick begs.
The man stops and turns to Rick. He looks down into his son's eyes and sighs. He signals Rick to follow them.
Rick follows them to their home. "There's a bathroom upstairs, we only have cold water but we got some food and water to drink. I'll get you some clothes so you can get out of that…um, robe…" the man explains to Rick.
"Thank you…" Rick says. The man hands Rick some clothes.
"When you're done, come back down for supper and we can have a little chat…" the man explains.
"Okay…" Rick nods and begins to walk up the staircase but then stops and turns back toward the man. "I'm Rick…Rick Grimes…" Rick says.
The man turns towards Rick. "Morgan…" the man reveals.
Once Rick has had a shower and is dressed in some normal clothes he makes his way downstairs where Morgan and his son are sitting by a candle lit table. Rick joins them. "Candles?" Rick asks.
"We don't like to use our lights or at least not all of them…it attracts them…gets their attention…" Morgan explains.
"Those things…those walkers?" Rick asks.
"Walkers? I like that…yeah well those walkers they come where ever there is light, where there is sound, where there is…blood…" Morgan explains.
"Wow…what are they?" Rick asks.
"Zombies!" the boy announces.
"Duane!" Morgan grunts.
"What?" Rick asks.
"I don't like to call them that…but my son, Duane, that's what he likes to call them…because I guess that's what they really are…the undead…" Morgan explains.
"Oh my god…so it is true…I saw one…in the park. I…I had no idea what it was…my first thought was it was a zombie…a walker, but I couldn't bring myself to believe that it was true…what happened here?" Rick asks.
"Back in late March, there were rumours of an infection, a virus, a disease, spreading around from cannibalistic behaviour and bites. It started in Africa or the middle east or something…anyway people were not paying much attention to it thought it was a hoax or just another type of flu. But then it kept spreading and went from Australia, Europe, Mexico, Ohio and then everywhere else. Everyone was turning. It hit this town overnight, it all happened over night…at the start of April. The town evacuated but some people couldn't accept to leave… they lost people…we lost people…" Morgan explains.
"Did you lose anyone?" Duane asks Rick.
"Uh, well…I don't know…my wife and son…they aren't home…I think they left, I think maybe they could be somewhere safe…" Rick hopes.
"Doubt it…no offense to you but a lot people from this town…their either dead or they're out there…dead…" Morgan replies.
Rick gets up and peaks through the window watching as walkers walk down the street.
"Come back here, we need to say grace!" Morgan whispers insistently. Rick walks back over and sits.
"Duane will you do the honour…" Morgan bows his head, followed by Rick.
"Oh lord, thank you for getting us through another day. Yes, it may get harder with each passing day but my father and I keep each other strong. So bless us father for the strength to continue and bless our new friend, Rick, who seems decent and kind enough…we thank you father for this meal as it could be our last but we are guided by your signs of nature." Duane preaches.
"Amen…" Morgan says.
"Amen." Rick adds.
They begin eating their dinner. "So uh, I wanna thank you again for letting me stay here with you…" Rick says.
"It's okay…it was kinda refreshing to see another normal person out there…" Morgan reveals.
"What happened to you?" Duane asks Rick.
"Yeah…" Morgan agrees to know.
"Well uh, it seems like just yesterday…April 1st, see I am the local deputy and I got a call out with my partner and some back up for a reckless armed driving call and two officers were shot and killed. Then suddenly, I got shot too…I was in a comma…which makes me need to ask…what month is it?" Rick explains.
"It's June…" Morgan reveals.
"What? No man it can't be…" Rick laughs with sarcasm.
"It's true…" Duane adds.
"But I thought you said our town got overrun in April…" Rick says.
"We did…" Morgan answers.
"I finished my supper dad…I'll go keep watch…" Duane says and stands by the window.
Rick shakes his head and tries thinking hard with confusion. "So…two months? You guys have been livin here and surviving for two months?" Rick asks.
Morgan nods. "Oh god…no. No! It can't be, it couldn't have been that long!" Rick grunts with sadness and confusion.
"I'm sorry…" Morgan says.
"So, who have you lost?" Rick asks with curiosity.
Suddenly Rick got the answer to that question. "Daddy! Daddy! She's here! She's coming!" Duane shouts with fear.
"Duane, it is gonna be okay…come on lay down and stay down!" Morgan demands.
"What's going on? Who's here?" Rick asks with confusion following Morgan to the window.
"My wife…" Morgan mutters. Rick is shocked and feels bad for them. Rick and Morgan stare out the window as they see a living dead version of Morgan's wife, Monica. Monica stumbles up the porch toward the door.
"The lights! Quick dim the lights!" Morgan commands quietly. Rick blows out some of the nearby candles and Duane flicks the light switch. Morgan looks through the peephole on the door and looks at his – once beautiful – normal wife. Monica stares at the door and eventually stumbles away. Rick and Morgan gasp with relief.
"So what do we do?" Rick asks. Morgan looks out the window and sighs with worry as the number of walkers in the street has doubled. "We can't stay here…"Rick continues.
"He's right dad, it's getting too dangerous…" Duane adds.
"Where would we go?" Morgan asks.
"I was thinkin bout heading to the police station, see if I could find anything useful. A phone, weapons, maybe even another normal living person…" Rick sighs with hope.
"That's not a bad idea…the police station is bound to be loaded with guns and protection right?" Morgan agrees.
"It sure is, I say we sneak down Bramley Street, it looks to be the quietest rather than the main road." Rick suggests.
"Sounds like a plan, we go tomorrow…" Morgan confirms.
"But dad…" Duane mutters.
"Yes son?" Morgan asks turning toward him.
"What about mom? Are we just gonna leave her walking around out there?" Duane sighs.
Morgan walks over to Duane and gets on his knees in front of his son and looks him in the eyes. "Duane, your mom can't come with us you know that…" Morgan sighs.
"I know…I just…I'm gonna miss her and not being able to see her alive or dead…sucks…I know she isn't mom anymore. But she is. I don't want her walking around out there while her body is controlled by a disease…" Duane begins to mutter as he starts tearing up.
"Duane…" Morgan sighs.
"No! Dad, I don't want mom to be killed by anyone else…that thing outside may not be my mom but I don't want some stranger killing her…we should be the ones to do that…I know you don't want to but we need to let mom rest in peace…" Duane explains sobbing with streaming tears.
Morgan tears up but he knows what Duane says is true. Rick tears up watching this emotional scene. "Duane, look at me… I completely agree with you…that's a very brave and mature thing of you to say…come here I'm sorry…" Morgan cries and hugs his son. "Tell you what, we will sleep on it. Okay?" Morgan continues. Duane wipes his tears and nods. "Okay, come on go to sleep…I love you son." Morgan sighs.
Rick follows Morgan into the other room. "Sorry bout that…" Morgan mutters clearing his throat.
"No don't apologize, it is okay…" Rick replies.
"This is really gonna be hard for him…" Morgan says.
"And you too I imagine…" Rick replies.
"Yeah…you know what he said…I know it's true, I have been thinking about it…but I don't think I could ever bring myself to do it…" Morgan sighs.
"You don't have to do it alone…I'm here for you both. You took me in. I wanna help and support anyway I can." Rick explains.
"I don't wanna leave just yet…I mean sure we can go to the police station but I need to spend at least another night or two here…ya know? Maybe then we can head to the CDC, last I heard that's where the cure is." Morgan sighs.
"Yeah that's fine…we don't have to leave straight away…" Rick agrees.
"Alright. Well…thank you for wanting to help us…" Morgan says.
"No, thank you for helping me…" Rick replies.
"Alright, I'll see you in the morning…goodnight." Morgan says and walks to his bed.
"Goodnight…" Rick sighs.
So I didn't end up getting to the police station right away, I met a man and his son along the way. They took me in, gave me shelter, water and food. I'm very grateful. As they had told me what had happened I couldn't help but lay awake that night thinking "Lori…if you're out there I'm sorry and I love you and Carl so much…" I just couldn't bring myself to admit that something had happened to them. But that doesn't mean I'm not gonna try and find them…I gotta admit when Morgan told me I was in a comma for two months, I didn't believe him at all…it didn't feel like that long at all…I still wasn't sure I mean the guy could have been exaggerating maybe just a little…but I don't know what to believe, I mean I awoken into a world full of the dead so anything was possible I guess…
The next morning, Rick awoken to the fresh smell of bacon and eggs. "Morning…" Morgan greets him.
"Morning…" Rick mutters. Rick sits beside Duane at the table. Morgan gives Rick a plate with some eggs and bacon. "Wow, this smells good…I haven't had a decent meal in…what feels like forever…" Rick laughs.
"Well don't get too used to it…this is our last carton of eggs at the moment…" Morgan replies.
"What!" Duane says with worry.
"Now don't you worry son, we have other food…" Morgan explains.
"Tried raiding the store?" Rick asks.
"How do you think we've been surviving for the past two months?" Morgan laughs sarcastically.
"Right…forgot about that…" Rick says.
"So what's the plan sheriff?" Morgan asks and sits across from Rick.
"I'm not the sheriff…" Rick laughs.
"Well you might as well be, the old sheriff is gone…he was one of the first to be turned into one of them…" Morgan explains.
"John?…He's…one of them…" Rick sighs with sadness, as he was a good friend of sheriff.
"Sorry…" Morgan comforts him.
"So, will you do it?" Duane asks.
"Do I have a choice?" Rick mutters.
"You do have a choice! Yes it may be pointless nowadays or a stupid idea because of what has happened to the town and everywhere else but you have the plan, you are gonna help protect my son and get us some weapons…I say you're a leader…whether I wanna admit that or not I think you would be a better protector than me…" Morgan explains.
"Well then…look out walkers there's a new sheriff in town." Rick smiles sarcastically. Duane and Morgan laugh.
At the police station, Rick enters looking for any other living people. It's empty. No one in sight. He starts looking around when hearing a sound in the office. It was the radio.
It was a poor signal but Rick could just sort of understand what it was saying. "The CDC has been researching the cure, all the information we have for now is that regular city checks are in place…" the radio then cuts out completely. Rick thought that the city might be the place to start.
Rick walks back out the front of the station and brings Morgan and Duane in to the hot water showers. After they have a shower, they are all in good moods, Rick is now back in uniform and Morgan and Duane are thankful to Rick.
"Thanks Rick!" Duane smiles.
"Yeah thank you…" Morgan adds.
"It's a pleasure…now come on, I'll take you to the weapon chamber." Rick explains as Morgan and Duane follow him to the weapon chamber.
"Wow…now this is what I'm talkin bout!" Morgan shouts with excitement at the sight of all the weapons and armour.
"That's a lot of guns…" Duane gasps.
"We take what we need for now…" Rick insists.
"Why not take it all?" Duane asks.
"Because…if there are any other survivors out there they might come looking for protection here…everyone deserves the chance to defend themselves." Rick replies.
They then suddenly hear a loud bang and loud screams coming from outside. They rush out of the station to see a car has blown up and four survivors. "Stay here…" Rick insists as he walks over to the four people. "You people okay?" Rick asks.
"Oh officer, please you need to help us! Can you help us?" The first lady asks with relief.
"What happened here?" Rick asks.
"The motor in our vehicle blew up…" the second woman says.
"Right…so anyone hurt?" Rick asks.
"Are you really a cop?" the man asks.
"Yeah I am…" Rick replies.
"Really? Then why haven't you guys done anything about this mess?" the man demands.
"Hey! Robbie, shut up!" The second woman says.
"Wait here…" Rick insists. Rick walks over to Morgan and Duane. "These people don't seem hurt…" Rick explains.
"Are they bit? The bites are what spreads it!" Duane says.
"No, they are fine…" Rick replies.
"What are we gonna do?" Morgan asks.
"We can't leave them by themselves…can we bring them back to your place Morgan? That's your call…" Rick asks.
"Look Rick, I don't want no trouble or anything in my house…but with you being the leader here, you need to make sure they are respectful, not dangerous or put my son in danger…so you think about that and that's your call…" Morgan sighs. Rick pauses and thinks.
Rick then walks back to the group. "Come on…" he mutters indicating them to follow.
Suddenly group of walkers begin heading toward them. Morgan shoots them then throws Rick the gun. "Thanks." Rick says and they begin to head back to Morgan's home.
There's more, we found more…four more survivors… I didn't think it were possible but it's true…we brought them back to the house and we started talking about what we do next. I decided we should head to the city…but I needed to make sure the others agreed…
That night at the house, the group were sitting around the dining table eating.
"Thank you for letting us stay here…both of you…thank you…" the first woman says.
"Don't thank me…thank Morgan…" Rick says.
"Well it means a lot…" the other woman says.
"What are your names?" Rick asks.
"I'm Edna…." the first lady reveals.
"I'm Renee, this is Ian and that's Robbie…" the second lady explains.
"So…Rick is it? Wanna explain to me why you and your police friends couldn't stop this?" Robbie asks.
"It's a disease! An illness! A sickness! Not a state of mind like some criminal! The police couldn't do anything to stop it! Besides…I wasn't here when it all started…I was in a comma… I was shot…" Rick explains.
"Sorry…" Edna mutters.
"Don't mind Robbie…he tries to be a tough guy but he's an ass…we all know it…" Renee adds.
"Fuck you! You tomboy! You don't know anything about me!" Robbie shouts.
"Enough!" Morgan shouts breaking up the argument. "In my house, you will show some respect! Young man, you are an ass…that's plain as day and I only just met you…but now, why don't you four tell us about yourselves…" Morgan insists.
The four new friends look at each other as to who should go first.
"I'll go…well I'm Renee, I'm 33 years old, I am in the military defence force and I also was in nurse training. I got separated from my swat team after our attacks weren't working on all those…things…" Renee reveals.
"Oh so now maybe we shouldn't be blaming the lazy police, we should be blaming the useless cadets!" Robbie jokes.
"Hey! That's enough!" Rick says in a firm voice scaring Robbie.
"Alright…it's cool…I'll go…" Robbie mutters. Rick nods. "Well…the name is Robbie…I'm 25 I work in tattoo designs and art…I was also in a band but they left me behind once the apocalypse happened." Robbie sighs.
"I'm sorry about that…" Rick says.
"What about you?" Morgan asks pointing to the other woman.
"Well I'm Edna, I'm 54, I'm from Florida, and I have three kids – two daughters and a son. I am a tailor and have my own business – well HAD my own business." Edna explains.
"Where are your kids? Your husband?" Rick asks.
"Well…I honestly do not know…but I pray to god that they are still out there and are okay…my girls were preparing to go on a road trip, I had the day off and my husband was with my son – but I don't know where they are now. When this apocalypse happened my house was severely damaged and my house fell down after a car ran through it. Luckily I got out and was saved by a few officers who risked their lives for me…and I'm sure once the girls saw the house and thought I was gone… my store was also overrun by those dead things…I saw them attacking my friends…" Edna sighs.
"I'm sorry…" Rick says and comforts her.
"What about you?" Morgan points to Ian.
"Well…I'm Ian…I'm 65 years old…I work with produce out on my brother's farm. My brother is a vet. Anyway, I drove into town to get some seeds but the highway was blocked off and then suddenly so many of them things were chasing my car and I found my way to this town and my car stopped working and I had to run from those things and so I hid in the post office until outside was clear then I met Renee…" Ian explains.
"Well sounds like you four haven't had an easy experience to still be here…" Rick mutters.
"Has anyone had an easy experience in this situation?" Robbie asks sarcastically.
"No, I guess not…" Rick replies.
"So what's the plan here? We gonna stay cooped up in here forever?" Robbie asks.
"No…we need to get to the city…hear me out, I have a plan. I heard that the city is having regular checks for survivors. So we need to ensure that we get to the city in time for one of their checks…" Rick explains.
"So what, you're the leader or boss of this group now?" Robbie asks. Rick nods.
"Yeah he is, you got a problem with that, you can leave…" Morgan insists.
"Alright…" Robbie backs down.
"Unless you gotta better idea?" Rick asks. Robbie shakes his head. "Right then…" Rick says.
"So when do we leave?" Renee asks.
Rick goes to answer but looks at Morgan, thinking of his wife. "Uh, well…we still should be safe here for a few days…" Rick mutters.
Suddenly the silence is interrupted by a smashing window. Followed by a loud bang.
"What's happening?" Duane cries. "
What do we do?" Edna shouts.
"Walkers…" Rick mutters.
"Rick, what do we do they're coming in!" Morgan shouts with worry.
"Stay together, try and kill as many as you can! Then we run into the back yard!" Rick explains as he then shoots a walker. But dozens and dozens more walkers enter the house.
The walkers overrun the house. Edna trips and a walker is about to bite her as she screams but Rick shoots it and saves her.
"You saved me! Thank you!" Edna gasps.
"Behind you!" Renee shouts and shoots a walker that was about to bite Rick.
Morgan gets Duane into the backyard followed by Edna and Robbie. Ian is then surrounded and stopped by at least six walkers and they bite his neck, his arm and his leg.
"Ian!" Renee cries.
"Come on let's get out of here!" Rick shouts.
As Rick and Renee join the group outside Morgan is staring at his wife in the distance heading toward them. Duane hugs his dad tightly. Rick notices this and approaches him to comfort him.
"Morgan…you don't have to do this…" Rick says.
Morgan has tear filed eyes and raises his gun.
"Dad…" Duane sobs.
Morgan aims up the shot. He is crying, as this is hard for him to do. "I'm sorry…I love you…" he sobs then pulls the trigger.
That night I honestly didn't think we would all get out of there alive…we lost a man but we can't let that slow us down…I can't imagine how Morgan feels, I mean the guy shot his wife…it must have been really hard for him…I feel sorry for the guy…Anyway, with no walkers in the yard we found our way to a safe looking spot under the town bridge, well at least for now it seemed safe…
Rick and the group have made their way to the town bridge where they decide to set camp beneath it by the old junkyard.
"You think we will be safe here?" Edna asks with worry.
"It looks secure enough…" Rick replies.
"I'll make us a fire…" Robbie suggests.
Morgan looks over and sees Duane sitting alone on an old tire. He joins him. "Hey son, you okay?" Morgan asks. Duane shrugs. "Duane, I know what just happened was hard…but you said yourself, it had to be done…she's in a better place now…" Morgan explains.
"I know…" Duane sighs.
"Maybe you should find a way to say goodbye…in your own little special way…" Morgan suggests.
"Like what?" Duane asks.
"Uh, I don't know…maybe a special memorial or something simple…" Morgan proposes.
"I think that could be a good idea…thanks dad…" Duane smiles.
As Robbie as created a fire, He sits near Edna as Morgan and Duane join them. Rick walks over to Renee, who is standing away from the group staring across the river.
"Hey, you okay?" Rick asks. Renee sniffles and clears her throat.
"Hi, uh…yeah I'm fine…it's just…Ian…" Renee sighs.
"I know…I'm sorry…" Rick mutters.
"It's not your fault…" Renee says.
"It kind of is…I could have done more to keep us all safe and save Ian, it didn't have to end like that…" Rick sighs.
"No, Rick you tried your best to keep us all safe and you got most of us out of there…" Renee explains.
"I tried…" Rick sighs.
"And that's all that matters…" Renee says. Rick hugs Renee for comfort and because Rick needed some comfort and affection of his own.
"You know, when I met Ian, I knew there was something about him that I liked…he seemed so sweet and caring. He became like a father to me. He risked himself so many times for me before we eventually found Edna and Robbie…" Renee explains.
"I bet he was a good man…" Rick says.
"He was…I just feel bad for his family…he said he has a brother and family out on a farm…" Renee sighs.
"Where's the farm?" Rick asks.
"I don't know the exact location…he just mentioned it's not far from the main highway. Ya know, I just bet they are worried about him and I just wish we could give them closure…" Renee explains.
"I don't know…I mean we gotta think of the group…we need to stay safe. I made a promise, to Morgan that I would keep him and Duane safe! But if there are others out there…" Rick begins to explain.
"No Rick! You're our leader! We need to do what you think is best, if there are other people…they are not our problem…but I would still love to help as many people as we can but if that means risking the lives of this group and breaking a promise you made…then it's not worth it." Renee cuts him off. Rick sighs and takes Renee's advice. He is a leader.
Renee and Rick shortly join the group around the fire. Shortly they are startled by the sound of footsteps. Rick stands up and grabs his gun, followed by Robbie, Morgan and Renee.
"Dad…" Duane gasps with fear.
"Stay with Edna…" Morgan whispers.
The four begin walking toward the sound but suddenly a couple emerges from the shadows. An elderly man and woman.
"Please don't hurt us, we don't want any trouble…" the man says with his hands up.
"We mean no harm…" the woman adds.
Rick and his friends continue pointing their weapons at the couple as Rick observes them both. The woman, she had a perm of white and was wearing a blue dress. The man, he was bald, had glasses, and was a bit chubby. Rick thought they seemed innocent enough.
"Okay…" Rick says and signals the others to lower their guns.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!" The woman says.
"What are your names?" Robbie asks.
"Oh I'm Ray and this is my wife, Linda…" The man explains.
"I'm Rick, I'm the leader of this group. This is Renee, Robbie, Morgan, Edna and Duane…" Rick explains directing the couple to join them and making introductions.
"Thank you for letting us join your group…" Linda says.
"It means a lot…we have been through a lot…" Ray adds.
"Yeah, we all have…" Robbie says sarcastically.
"Lose anyone?" Morgan asks.
"Well, our sons…we have two. Thomas and Wayne…We were driving in our RV and we crashed. It was just the three of us. Tom, Ray and I. We were going to pick Wayne up. He works at the arcade. And we never made it there and after the crash we lost Tom…he was impaled by a pole and the arcade was overrun by those…zombies!" Linda explains and starts to cry.
"We have been hiding in this old car and junk yard since the first night…we haven't seen any other normal people until now." Ray explains as Linda rests her head on his shoulder.
"Well your safe now…" Renee says.
"Okay guys, I have been thinking and I have a plan…" Rick begins as the others are silent and listen. "I'm gonna head into the city tomorrow…alone…" Rick mutters. The others gasp.
"What!" Morgan gasps.
"Are you crazy?" Edna gasps.
"Rick, you can't!" Morgan continues.
"Not alone, out there…" Linda gasps.
"You'd never make it!" Ray gasps.
"Rick no, you can't!" Renee sighs.
"No, you are right. I am a leader…I'm going alone. Hear me out, I'll keep a radio here and take one with me so when I know it's safe I'll call you guys and meet y'all halfway and bring you there…if not, well at least you know it's safer here…but if people find me, I will come back for you all, I promise." Rick explains.
The group is quiet. Worried if Rick will live or die. Hoping it works out.
"It's a crazy plan, but I like it…I am not complaining." Robbie jokes.
"Alright then, I leave in the mornin, for now let's just think positive and have an early night anyway." Rick sighs.
Yeah, I made a decision. Renee was right, I was leader and had to make all the right decisions to keep everyone safe. That's why I'm heading to the city alone…it was best for everyone…I just hope they didn't think it was a suicide wish or that I was planning to abandoned them and never come back because that wasn't the case. I just want to keep them safe and own up to this leadership…
The following Morning, Rick is packing a few supplies for himself into one of the cars in the yard that still seems to work.
"Are you sure you wanna go alone, I could come with you…" Renee suggests with worry.
"No, besides me you're a leader too! They need you." Rick says.
"What about Morgan?" Renee asks with confusion.
"No, Morgan is…in a very fragile state of mind right now…I think it be best if you take care of things while I'm gone…" Rick suggests.
"Okay…I will…" Renee replies and kisses him on the cheek. "Promise me you will be careful!" Renee begs.
"I promise…" Rick blushes with determination.
Morgan and the others gather round as Rick is about to leave. "Now I want ya'll to know that I have left Renee and Morgan in charge…but I expect you will respect each other! I will be in contact and have my radio on at least for a few hours each day…if it's important keep trying until you reach me…" Rick explains.
"Be careful buddy…" Morgan sighs.
"I will…and I promise I will come back for you all…" Rick assures them.
Rick and Renee exchange a look of attraction as he gets into the car. "Ya'll stay safe!" Rick says as he drives away.
Renee stands alone as she watches him drive out of sight. The others gather back around the morning fire to stay warm.
Morgan walks over by the riverside where Duane is standing alone. "Hey buddy what are you doing?" Morgan asks.
"I made a special sort of candle that I have told all my wishes and prayers for, I made it last night. I found some scrap things lying around here so wanted to be creative, I wanted to release it once Rick was gone, I prayed for him too…prayed that he would be safe…all I need to do is light it…" Duane explains.
"That's a great thing of you to do, I'm so proud of you son…" Morgan smiles.
"Suppose you better light it then…" Renee smiles and approaches them from behind with a lighter.
Duane smiles as Renee lights the candle. "Do you wanna pray for anyone first?" Duane asks Renee.
Renee pauses and looks into the water. "Rick…" Renee sighs with worry under her breath. She looks back at Duane and shakes her head in denial to hide her worry and fear. "Rick will be okay, I just know it!" Renee smiles.
"Yeah he will…" Morgan replies. Duane smiles and releases the candle into the air as it floats across the sky into the distance.
So, off I drove…city here I come. A part of me wanted to believe Lori and Carl were there, someplace safe. As for my new group of friends, I'm not worried, I know Renee will take care of them till I get back and keep them inline…now all I gotta do is be thankful that I'm alive, I found a group…I'm not alone, all that was left to hope and pray that Lori and Carl were still out there but in case I was wrong I tried not to admit the worst case scenario painful truth…I just had to hope for the best, I had no idea what I was getting myself into…So I just gotta take it one day at a time…